Dumbarton Area Council on Alcohol were looking pretty in pink recently when they helped raise funds for the fight against breast cancer and highlight the impact alcohol has on health.

Staff, volunteers and clients at DACA joined the Wear It Pink campaign as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is run by the charity Breast Cancer Now.

According to BCN, regularly drinking alcohol increases your risk of developing the disease – and the more you drink, the greater the risk.

Mags Mackenzie, director of DACA, a community-based charity which provides advice and counselling for anyone who is affected by their own or someone else’s alcohol-related problems, said: “Despite evidence showing clear links between drinking and breast cancer, many women are unaware of the increased risk that even a small amount of alcohol can have on their chances of contracting the disease.”

“Regularly drinking a large glass of wine or a pint of premium lager increases the risk of seven different cancers.

“People often think cancer only affects heavy drinkers but that’s not the case.

“And Because breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and many women regularly drink small amounts of alcohol – it impacts more women than any other cancer.”

Over 4,700 women and 30 men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in Scotland.

Survival rates are improving thanks to early detection and improved research but the disease still claims the lives of around 1,000 women in Scotland every year.

Mags added: “While drinking alcohol doesn’t mean you will get cancer there is strong evidence to show the risk of breast cancer increases from just one alcoholic drink a day.

“Also the more a woman drinks over her lifetime the higher her risk of developing breast cancer.

“And it’s not just breast cancer – alcohol increases the chance of seven different cancers and affects both women and men.”

Women are advised to limit their risk of developing breast cancer by reducing drinking and not exceeding recommended guidelines of 14 units per week - equivalent to five pints of premium lager or four large glasses of wine a week.

For more advice and support to cut down your drinking contact DACA on 01389 731456 or 0141 9520881.